Beginnings
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Key Verse: “The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Selected Scripture: |
THE CLIMAX OF GOD’S Creative work described in the Book of Genesis is that of the Creation of man. As described in Genesis 1:26, God states, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” The ‘likeness’ spoken of was one of mental and moral character, and as a king over the earthly creation. The mental image included the ability to reason, formulate ideas and act upon them. Man was superior to all others of God’s earthly Creative works. None of the lower animals were created in the image of God.
The Key Verse states that man was formed in a very reasonable and simple fashion, made out of those elements of the earth that were already in existence at that time. Every intricate part of the human body, from the complex internal organs and tissues, to the outwardly visible skin and fleshly features, was created from “the dust of the ground.” (Gen. 2:7) Yet, if left only in this form, the created body was lifeless, only a mass of elements which, if left as is, would quickly revert back to the dust from which it was made.
Our Key Verse further states that God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” It was only after God had given this ‘spark’ of the breath of life to the created being that it became a live creature. We should notice that it is only after the breath of life entered man that he is spoken of as a ‘living soul.’ Conversely, when the breath is taken away, and a man dies, the soul ceases to exist. This important truth gives us a correct understanding, according to the Scriptures, of what happens when human beings die; i.e., they are actually dead.
The wise man, Solomon, speaks of the condition of death in this way, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit [breath] shall return unto God who gave it.” (Eccles. 12:7) Notwithstanding the reality of death, God has not left man without hope of life beyond the present. The same God from whence this breath of life came and, in the case of death, returned, will eventually demonstrate even a greater power in the resurrection and restoration of man to the condition of perfection here on earth. The Apostle Paul says, “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. … For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.”—I Cor. 15:22,25,26
In verses 8 and 9 of our lesson, we see the ample provisions God made for his human creation, planting a garden paradise filled with everything pleasant for man to enjoy, and to use for his sustenance. Man was given instructions to dress and keep the garden. (Gen. 2:15) He had only one restriction placed upon him as to what he could use for food, that being “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (vs. 17) He was not to eat of that tree, or else he would “surely die.” Our lesson concludes with an example of God’s care over his creation. He saw that the man was alone, and needed a mate or “help meet for him” (vs. 18), who would share his life’s experiences, and work together with him in the garden in which he had been placed. When Eve was created, “Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh.”—Gen. 2:23